It is all fragrance wafting in the area if anybody ever steps into the premises of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque where sellers of attar of different flavours and kohl (surma) have set up their makeshift shops on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Shafiq, who was selling attar near the mosque, however, said, 'People usually prefer attar prepared from herbal extracts to perfume having mixture of alcohol or spirit.'
Display of bright-coloured bottles of attar in front of the national mosque catches the viewers' eye and people hardly hesitate to spend on such fancy items.
Popular brand 'Beli' in a 3ml phial sells at Tk 30, 6ml Tk 50, while one ounce of 'Jasmine' and 'Fantasia' sells at Tk 150.
Saudi 'Dalal' attar in 3ml phial costs Tk 150, 'Lord' 6ml Tk 150 and 'Silver' Tk 180.
Traditional cosmetic item surma is another attraction for many.
School teacher Marjana bought one tola of surma at Tk 600 and said, 'Surma is good for our eyes'.
Stone surma which costs Tk 50 per tola is also available at Baitul Mukarram.
But for exclusive Ismat Surma, people need to go to Basundhara city, another centre where both attar and surma are available. 20ml of Ismat Surma here costs Tk 500.
Azad, who was buying attar from a shop Al-Musk at Basundhara City, said, 'Attar is alcohol-free and that's why people still prefer attar on holy occasions like Eid.'
For exclusive attar items, Basundhara City's level 1 and 6 shops are very famous.
The most expensive Oud attar, 6ml of which costs Tk 8,000 and 12ml Tk 16,000.
3ml Jannatul Ferdaus costs Tk 4,000, 12ml Musk-amber Tk 1,600, Sultan Tk 1,200-1600 and Kiswatul Kaaba Tk 800.
A 12ml phial of non-alcoholic perfumes Azzaro, Boss, Armani, Hugo, Richi and CK-1 costs Tk 800.
Here is a shop which is also famous for gorgeous and fancy attar container costs Tk 600-3,000.
People like White Oud attar very much which comes from Madina and a 12ml phial costs Tk 4800 and its floral extracts fragrance mesmerises the senses, said shop owner.
'Using attar of elegant fragrance on Eid day has religious significance more than a traditional appeal,' said owner Abdul Kader, who worked 20 years in an attar shop of Madina.
'All are imported from Saudi Arabia,' he said, adding they had three shops — one each in Zedda, Mecca and Bangladesh.
Source : New Age
